difficulty attacking as Soviets in Moscow 42

[Bacillus98]

I am having difficulty attacking as the Soviets in the Moscow 42 PzC title. Most units are rated D morale, with exceptions such as the Siberians who muster a C morale rating.

Things I have tried in the getting started scenario:

1) Focusing on artillery/mortar fire on a particular hex. The Germans rarely disrupt.

2) Moving stacks of 2-3 Soviet battalions adjacent to German units in hopes artillery will disrupt so infantry can assault. (example: Ski battalions). I find the Germans are able to disrupt at least 1 battalion on their turn.

3) I realize the Soviet units strengths are the assault values, but it seems you must use direct fire with them to be able to land a disruption on German units. Is it bad to use direct fire with Soviet infantry units in general?

4) Lastly I noticed that Volcano's Man alternate scenario values are being used with the newer titles. I noticed "alternative assault resolution" is not checked by default. I was wondering if this was by design choice.

Any advice on Soviet attack strategies would be greatly appreciated.

[76mm]

I am certainly no expert and am also pretty new to the game. I share your pain with attacking as Sovs, it can be tough. Here is what I do:

1) As you say, focus arty on one hex in an "attack zone" and pound it until it falls. Sometimes it seems like a hex is invulnerable to arty file, and I'll shift the focus to another hex, where I might have better luck. I guess it is pschological to some extent, but it sure seems like when I attack a hex, if I get "no result" a couple of times, I'll get a similiar result if I fire on the same hex ten more times, so often I'll move on to another hex...

2) I try to move a single Sov unit next to a German one to see what happens before moving in with a stack. Sometimes the first unit triggers heavy defensive fire and arty and takes a pounding, and the next two battalions have an easier time. I also try to spread an attack across at least three hexsides so it is harder for the Germans to hit all of my units. Also, I try to avoid moving next to hexes with more than one German unit, it can just be too painful. Pick on the single-defender hexes to open a hole and bypass the better-defended hexes. Also, personally I try to avoid using ski battalions to assualt, they are too valuable as "breakthrough" troops, so I try to hold them back for that.

3) I never fire with Sov units before an assault--all it does it trigger a withering defensive blast that might disrupt all of my attackers. Other than indirect fire and air, I always assault with no other prep (no AT gun firing, etc.). I'm using the "delayed disruption reporting" rule which is kind of fun, as you have to guess whether a German unit might have disrupted based on the pasting it is getting.

4) I had the same question about the alternate assault rule; I've kept it off, hopefully won't screw things up too badly.

My very general approach is to attack whereever I can put 4-8 Sov units against a single German unit; eventually the German line breaks in a few places and then I focus on widening and exploiting those holes rather than beating my head against whatever strongpoints remain on the frontline, which are bypassed and surrounded. I'm about 18 turns into the grand campaign, so it is early to tell how this will work out.

[Strela]

Hi,

Alternative assault resoultion is deliberately OFF in Moscow '42 by design. We have used the McNamara values for the game but found that the bunkers in the winter scenarios were impregnable if this optional rule was used. If you reckon its hard now - it's impossible with alternative assault resolution.

We did a lot of play testing to get the bunkers right in game. For example around Kalinin it will take potentially a couple of days to get a breakthrough (!) - This was historical. 76mm's description of play is completely correct. Gang up on one part of the front and wear it down. Frontal assaults all along the line will just bleed you dry. Personally, I use my ski troops as shock units for clearing bunkers as you can use a whole regiment (3 battalions) within the stacking limit and their assault value is just awesome. You do need to use them sparingly as they with Cavalry are your main exploitation forces. Keep in mind the big 600 men Siberian Rifle battalions are also uber effective.

There was nothing subtle about Soviet tactics at this time and they used brute force with frightful casualties. That said be aware the Germans have terrible supply issues as well as big negatives if they are not in urban type hexes.

Please note that for the summer scenarios (Fall Kreml) I recommend turning ON alternative assault resolution as the Soviets will need all the help they can get.

Happy to answer any other design questions.

David

[ComradeP]

To me, the key is to not expect great results in a single day but rather to adapt to waging a slow, methodical and costly war. The German replacement figure is low and I have concerns about how likely it is for them to survive the opening month without losing a lot of units. As the Soviets, you can recover from virtually any kind of losses over time, provided you give your units time to recover.

Another important things to keep in mind is that many Soviet formations are still in a defensive posture, with the resulting poor C&C when attacking. Move your HQ closer to the frontline and try to give your assaulting units a limited, narrow, front, backed up by artillery. Soviet artillery isn't anything like the artillery in the late war years, but it can still get the job done.

[Bacillus98]

Thank you all for the explanations. I never assault with the Soviets unless all German units in a hex are disrupted, which can be a while. Do you sometimes assault undisrupted German units with large stacks of Soviet troops? I am admittedly spoiled by playing the Germans in many Moscow 41 scenarios.

[76mm]

Do you sometimes assault undisrupted German units with large stacks of Soviet troops?

Hell yes! At least small, weak German units, like x-size AT or arty units or xx-size infantry units. xxx size units I try to avoid.

[ComradeP]

Maybe not assaulting is the reason for some of the difficulties: as long as you assault with about 3:1 odds in men, you can get a close to 1:1 or usually at worst 1:2 casualty ratio provided you don't get hammered by artillery. 20% defensive bonus is by far not enough to stop overwhelming odds. It's an entirely different world from the 90% for the Normandy campaign someone mentioned.

Also: Katyusha's are real killers when targeting units in clear terrain.

[ComradeP]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, considering the database came from elsewhere, but why are Guards units weaker in soft attack and assault than their regular Rifle division counterparts, and what does the higher hard attack value represent at this point in the war? AT rifles? If so, why don't they have a separate company per regiment/brigade like some of the Rifle brigades?

[Strela]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, considering the database came from elsewhere, but why are Guards units weaker in soft attack and assault than their regular Rifle division counterparts, and what does the higher hard attack value represent at this point in the war? AT rifles? If so, why don't they have a separate company per regiment/brigade like some of the Rifle brigades?

As far as the Guard values, Ed will have to confirm why the variance between the standard Rifle and Guard Battalion. We have a master McNamara database and they were taken from there. I would have argued that the inclusion of more smg would impact the soft value (lower), but that doesn't align with the assault value (should be higher).

The hard attack value does cover off both AT rifles and an increased preponderance of improvised AT weapons (grenade bundles, molotovs, mines etc) as well as the will to use them. The non inclusion of further breakdowns at a Regimental level was deliberate, with Rifle Division variations kept at a Battalion level.

David

[Mr Grumpy]

Do you sometimes assault undisrupted German units with large stacks of Soviet troops?

Hell yes! At least small, weak German units, like x-size AT or arty units or xx-size infantry units. xxx size units I try to avoid.

Absolutely, especially if you do have a 5-1 or better advantage, as has been said if the unit shows XX men you know it is 99 men or less and so you can judge the odds with ease.